HUNDREDS of pounds have been raised in memory of a toddler who succumbed to a brain tumour.
Caroline Earley’s two-year-old son Max died in November last year, just two months after being diagnosed with a malignant ependymoma tumour.
She held a tabletop sale in St Mary’s Parish Hall, High Street, Harefield, on Saturday, to raise awareness of tumour symptoms.
More than 100 people attended the event, which was reported in the Gazette on March 27.
“A lovely lady from the village had read my article in the Gazette and came in to talk to me,” said Caroline, who lives in Dovedale Close.
“She’d had a brain tumour removed herself.
“Other people who had seen it in the paper just popped in to make a donation, so it was a lovely community day.”
A total of £900 was raised through the sale of tombola tickets, tea and cakes and the fee charged for people to sell their wares.
“It went unbelievably well,” said Caroline. “I’m really pleased, it was a lovely day.”
Caroline’s main mission, as well as fundraising, is to spread information about the symptoms of brain tumours in children, as early diagnosis usually means tumours can be treated and lives saved.
She is working with HeadSmart, a project run by The Brain Tumour Charity, to raise awareness of the danger signs.
HeadSmart community champion, Emma Basset, attended the tabletop sale to offer people advice and hand out symptom cards outlining what to look for. She also raised money by selling badges.
Emma, 21, was diagnosed with a brain tumour when she was 12. She had had it, undetected, since she was six.
“Eventually my optician referred me for tests and it was diagnosed,” she explained. “I had four 12-hour operations to have it removed and I had to relearn to walk and talk.”
Caroline hopes to run another similar event.
“It brought local people together and the vicar has already said I can use the hall again, to make even more people aware,” she said.
